Service performance of directionally solidified Alnico 8 alloy

This manuscript reports the spinodal decomposition nanostructure and magnetic properties evolution in Alnico magnet alloys as a result of isothermal annealing, magnetic field annealing, and directional solidification followed by magnetic field annealing. The directionally solidified alloy demonstrates nearly ideal microstructure, the highest magnetic properties and good service performance. While the conventionally casted magnet annealed without magnetic field exhibits the lowest magnetic properties. Maximum energy product of 83.98 kJ/m 3 is obtained by magnetic field annealing of the directionally solidified alloy. The low temperature and high temperature service performance is analyzed by obtaining the magnetic properties at low temperature (10 K), and at high temperature (up to 800 K). The alloys exhibit good temperature stability over the temperature range of 10 to 700 K. The recoil loops of the directionally solidified alloys suggests that directionally solidified alloys have low recoil permeability suggesting their potential use in changing magnetic fields.